Method of producing model garments in simulation of fur garments



J. GREY June 13, 1933.

METHOD PRODUCING MODEL GARMENTS IN SIMULATION OF FUR GARME NTS Filed Feb. 11, 1930 -//VV/VTOR Jm/N GREY rTOR/VEV WWWWWW Patented June 13, 1933 STATES JOHN GREY, 0F YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF PRODUCING MODEL GABMENTS IN SIMULATION OF FUR GARMENTS Application filed February 11, 1930. Serial No. 427,459.

My invention relates to a method of producing a model garment,fori,display purposes, of unpiled fabric in simulation of a finished fur coat. More particularly, my invention contemplates the provision of a plain model garment of an unpiled fabric material such, for instance, as canvas or muslin, or sateen, with a particular design in simulation of the actual appearance of a finished fur so that the model garment, from a distance of a few feet, will have the appearance of a finished fur coat or other garment which the model is designed to represent.

An object of the invention is to provide a model garment to which has been impart-ed, in accordance with my invention, the appearance of a finished product such as a fur coat, by simulating the design of such fur upon thecanvas or muslin garment so that the prospective purchaser of a fur coat is enabled to visualize just what the finished product will look like when it is made up of the particular and generally expensive fur.

A further object of my invention is to provide the fur designer or fur garment salesman with an inexpensive and effective means whereby he can exhibit his wares to his prospective custom-er with the same facility and persuasive quality as if he had at his disposal for exhibition the actual finished garment made up of the expensivefur called for by the particular design. v

In the manufacture and marketing of fur coats it is customary for the designer thereof to exhibit his new ideas and designs by means of a dummy frock or garment made of ordinary canvas or unbleached muslin which, while it has the outline and general design of the proposed fur coat, is, of course, only a canvas smock. These model garments are usually trimmed with black sateen or similar material designating collar, cuff, and border treatment. such as ermin-es, mink, squirrels, muskrats, etc., are indicated by pencilor' crayon lines drawn on the model garment, and suggestive of the various skin arrangements; Themeth- 0d of selling is to convince the customer by proper salesmanship and the liberal use of his imaginative faculties that the model-gar- Definitely striped skins ment before him represents the furs in which he is interested. It is good salesmanship alone that does this. It is explained, for example, that the light cloth is supposed to material is supposed to be fox, mink, fitch, etc.

These model garments are presented immediately after the Paris import openings with new ideas from the mid-season collec- This practice necessitates the working out of at least four to five hundred different and distinct creations during the season, representing every type of fur garment in every price range. It will be readily seen, therefore, how prohibitive is the-cost of making up the model garments in actual furs before style trends, particularly in the more radical style changes, are definitely established.

be Hudson seal and that the dark trimming tions and the addition of original designs.

The problem of effective exhibition of style models without the prohibitive cost of actual reproduction of a model finished fur coat has thus become one of major proportions in the industry, a solution of which has been sought since its infancy. While a partial solution of the, problem has been arrived at in the practice, which has been followed for some thirty years, of making up a model garment of white or cream colored canvas or unbleached muslinwith an outline in imitation of the final product, the paramount disadvantage of the practice has been the necessity of depending upon the ability of the salesman exhibiting the model to convey to the prospective purchaser a definite idea as distinguished from a hazy mental picture of the ultimate appearanceof the garment when made up of the actual fur. The tax on the imagination of the public has destroyed the benefits 'de rived from the use of such model garments.

My invention contemplates the identification of the model garment with the characteristic design of a particular type of fur. The canvas or muslin model garment is provided with an exterior coating of pigment simulating theactual furs in color effects, shading,and distinctive marking, emphasizing the style features of the particular model.

In the accompanying drawing, in which particular embodiments of my invention are illustrated as exemplative merely of its application, Fig. 1 shows a model garment of leopard, trimmed with red fox, a portion of the garment being shown in its original condition without my invention applied thereto, to illustrate the difference in appearance between a model frock of unbleached muslin or canvas heretofore used and a garment in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 shows a model garment of Hudson seal, trimmed with mink, a portion of the garment being likewise illustrated in its condition before the process of my invention has been applied thereto and with the striping of the mink fur indicated thereon in pencil or crayon lines; Fig. 3 shows a stencil used to create the shadings of hair on a fur of the type of the red for; used for trimming the garment illustrated in Fig. 1; 4: shows a stencil sheet with the various perforations instrumental in imparting to a plain fabric the spotted design of a leopard skin, and 5 shows a piece of fabric to which. has been applied the characteristic design simulating the appearance of mink.

Referring more particularly to the draw ing, 10 designates the portion of a model garment to which has been applied a coating of pigment as hereinafter described in simulation of a leopard skin or Hudson seal (Figs. 1 and 2 respectively), the portion 11 being illustrated without such coating to emphasize the marked difference in effect obtained from the model garment of my invention over that from the plain muslin or canvas frock heretofore used for display purposes. 12 designates the trimming in simulation of red fox or mink, as the case. may be, and 13 the plain fabric requiring an explanation of what it is to represent and without the advantage of conveying an idea of the appearance of the actual fur.

. The stencil shown in Fig. 3 has one of its edges provided throughout the length thereof with irregular cuts or fringing 14 for use in imparting to a fabric the irregular shadings simulating the hair on fur of the type of red fox. Fl 4 shows a stencil sheet, on the left hand half of which are the perforations 15 for producing the brown shadings under the black leopard spots, and on the righthand h alf, perforations 16 of various sizes for pro ducing the black spots over the brown shadings.

It is to be noted that the model garments produced in accordance with my invention are not designed with the purpose of selling them to the public as imitation fur products, but merely as a means for displaying the new modes by their suggestive likeness to actual furs. In accordance with my invention, I merely produce a durable likeness or fur picture on unpiled goods, which goods, described, possibly as fur canvas, are then made into model gaanents for display purposes. I prefer to use an unpiled fabric known in the trade as unbleached muslin or canvas but it will be readily understood that all other unpiled fabrics, having similar characteristics, may be utilized. For instance, sateens, identifying the characteristic gloss of particular furs, present advantages not present in the bare canvas or muslin material.

My process consists of dyeing unpiled fabrics of the character described in various solid colors as black, brown, gray, etc., for use as a foundation for the fur designs. I then place a metal or cardboard stencil over this unpiled surface, and with an air brush, sprayer, paint brush, or roller, apply the pigments necessary for obtaining a close simulation of the particular fur. The stencil sheet is cut by hand or machine to imitate the peculiar and individual water-marking, color shading, or striping of the fur. The following are examples illustrative of my process, in which I describe the method of producing the two garments shown in the accompanying drawmg:

In producing a model garment of leopard, trimmed with red fox, (Fig. 1) I use, for a base material, an unpiled muslin cloth dyed a soft yellow. Upon this cloth, I place a large stencil sheet cut out to permit the brown shadings under the characteristic black leopard spots, to be made by the spraying of the stcncilled surface with soft umber paint or dye by means of an air brush. After drying, a second. stencil sheet, cut out for producing the black spots over the brown shading, is placed upon the cloth and the air brush, containing black paint or dye, is applied. For the red fox trimming, I use a similar unpiled fabric dyed a reddish yellow, applying shading and impression of length of hair, typical of this pelt, by means of a stencil such as illustrated in Fig. 3, and airbrush or sprayer and appropriate color paint or dye. The finished model garment retains the flatness characteristic of an unpiled surface.

For a model garment of Hudson seal trimmed with mink (Fig. 2) I use a black dyed glazed cloth that is not of piled fabric, either groundwork or top. I spray this surface with dark gray paint or dye by means of an airbrush, creating a resemblance to the characteristic gloss and luster of Hudson seal. For the mink trimming, I use an unbleached muslin unpiled fabric dyed a dark brown. The effect of the shading of the darker stripes of mink is obtained by means ofair brush or sprayer with flat colors. The finished model. garment is perfectly flat and is distinguishable from the thickness of plush or similar piled surfaces used in imitation of fur coats produced for actual wear.

I claim: I

The method of producing a model garment for use as a permanent model for exhibition purposes which comprises cutting patterns for such garment from an unpiled fabric ma terial, making up a model garment from such patterns, and thereafter imparting t0 the unpiled fabric comprising the model garment a design in imitation of the outline, color, shading, and Water-marking characteristic of an actual fur or combination of furs.

JOHN GREY. 

